it isn't snowing any more, but still pretty much looks like this outside
When I took on the Saturday morning barn chores (picking stalls, watering the stalls & fields, and sweeping) this summer, they fit very tidily into a two hour gap before readying Isabel to leave for our OF lesson.
But everything takes longer in the mud and cold - esp when horses sleep inside - and the chores are rapidly expanding beyond the time I set for them...
hey look, a couple days above freezing!
Meanwhile, barnmate B and I are working with her leased OTTB Wick on trailer loading - and *not* by running onto the damn thing at full speed, thank you very much. (Isabel is NOT pleased with sharing her chariot with the unwashed cur, lol)
Wick's interest in Isabel is not mutual
This Saturday is supposed to be Wick's big debut at OF. In exchange, B will help with Saturday morning chores. Except even with help, the chores will still be more than the two of us can accomplish in two hours...
To add cheese to this whine: I wanna do a jumpers show with barnmate K on Sunday at the same venue we had to cancel last November. Isabel hasn't worked all week but was solid during my 2wk staycation. So she's good to go -- tho that won't last if this weather continues. So I really want one last hurrah!!!
feels like this was forever ago
Sunday morning is the same situation - there will be more chores to do than time to do them, unless I find a LOT of help.
So far folks have been surprisingly willing to help - the trainers even spread the word to their lesson kiddos in the hopes of amassing a small army of minions... And I'm bribing them with donuts, naturally...
i'm already bringing them to my lesson for falling off, so might as well grab extras!
But are we even being reasonable at this point? Is it really worth it to rush around stressing about chores before hauling horses out for work?
Both B and K are resolved to make our plans (lesson and show, respectively) a reality... Especially B, since she wants in on our saddle fitter appointment next week and would prefer to have one outing already under Wick's belt.
But idk... My general rule is to 'set yourself up for success,' and it feels like everything is working against us this weekend. Tho the situation isn't likely to improve any time soon either...
Perhaps it'll just have to be a game time decision?
Sometimes the best decisions are the ones that are made at the last minute! :) I hope you're able to make it to the show and that you have an awesome time!
ReplyDeletethanks! and good point about last minute decisions. i like to plan out every little detail, but that's usually pretty unnecessary lol
DeleteI hear you on chores taking twice as long in winter! Ugh! If it were me... I wouldn't bother to show on Sunday. But that's because I think showing in the middle of winter is one of the most unpleasant things in the universe, especially if it's a hunter/jumper show where you're bound to be waiting around for your classes! COLD.
ReplyDeletehrm - i hadn't even thought of that haha! yea my last hunter show we definitely spend a while waiting... at least at this show i'd be riding in the first division?
Deletei guess the flip side is that if we don't go to the show, i won't be able to ride period, probably until our lesson the following saturday...
I can totally relate. Winter sucks. I hope that it all works out :)
ReplyDeletethanks!! we had been very spoiled up to now in my region... ah well!
DeleteEh - jump in with both feet ;)
ReplyDeleteBut that's just me, haha!
that's kinda how i roll too! and also the plan... but man... i just don't know how 6 hours of chores can be crammed into 2...
DeleteSimple maths would say get 3 people - but simple math cannot be applied to horses nor the chores that come with the delightful animals.
DeleteBest of luck with it all, I agree on jumping in with both feet & full steaming ahead in the hopes of being able to cram all the things in through sheer will power. *thumbsup*
G'luck but more importantly HAVE FUN!!!
haha your simple math is right in line with mine - three ppl for stalls, plus another three kiddos for the rest of it - water (bc i am a horribly cruel person and will make children do water chores in 20* weather -- but hey, donuts!!), sweeping, sawdust etc...
Deletethanks!!
Hard to plan with all the crappy weather. See where the wind blows you!
ReplyDeleteya know - that sounds like an excellent plan (and not only bc it is probably inevitable! might as well just surrender to the weather ha)
DeleteCan you not go early? When I used to work at a barn, if I had a show I would go to the barn early - like an hour or three depending on time to get it all done.
ReplyDeleteyep - that's exactly the plan ... tho there are points of diminishing returns since the horses don't go out until a certain hour....
DeleteI hear ya with the weather, the mud and the extra stall cleaning!
ReplyDeleteyea.... boo winter!
DeleteAww I hope you can make it work, especially for the lesson and saddle fitting. I'll keep my fingers crossed the weather cooperates. Is there not some prep you can do the day before? Measure out the feed, fill the hay nets, etc.? I would try to get as much done the night before as possible. Good luck!!
ReplyDeletethanks! yea we definitely do as much in advance as possible - but some things (like cleaning the stalls) that simply have to wait....
Delete